Exploring multicultural discourse in information technology documents

Abstract

Purpose

The primary purpose of this paper is to illustrate strategies college students learn to practice in their analysis of multicultural documents located through use of the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

Students explored a variety of meanings for diversity within and across texts readily available in public databases. Using linguistic devices (forms and functions of discourse) as language resources, and following a propositional analytic scheme, students compiled samples of text from online documents.

Findings

Evaluation of these compilations at the end of the course demonstrated that students can use conceptualizations of language forms and functions to identify representations of multicultural, and can identify attributions of the phenomenon of diversity using conceptualizations of science as propositional structures.

Originality/value

The value of this conceptual paper has been articulated: In what ways can projects that attempt to connect multicultural education and technology facilitate college students' critical engagement with diversity topics and issues?

Citation

Piazza, C.L. and Wallat, C. (2008), "Exploring multicultural discourse in information technology documents", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 184-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970810911025